Seventy-Person-Strong College of Medicine Marathon Team Runs May 26

University of Vermont medical students, faculty and staff members, along with cancer patients in the Steps to Wellness program, fundraised and trained for months to participate in what turned out to be a very rainy and cool Vermont City Marathon (VCM) on Sunday, May 26, 2013. More than 70 people made up the team, which included 13 full marathoners (26.2 miles), 20 half marathoners (13.1 miles), and about 40 individuals running a 3.3-mile, 5.5-mile, 5.8-mile, or 6.1-mile leg on one of the College’s relay teams to fundraise for the Steps to Wellness program, a medically-based rehabilitation program for cancer survivors.

Patients in Steps to Wellness receive a physical therapy evaluation, medical assessment, individualized exercise prescription, and education. There are multiple phases of rehabilitation based on a cancer patient’s needs. Participants can receive individualized oncology/hematology rehabilitation services and recommendations for exercise at different stages through your cancer survivor journey. This program is supported through the funds raised by the UVM College of Medicine Marathon Teams and Fletcher Allen Marathon Teams. UVM faculty members Patricia O’Brien, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, and Kim Dittus, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine, direct the program.

The College’s 2013 Marathon Team co-leaders are Class of 2016 medical students Sabrina Bedell, Tara Higgins, and James Levins IV. In addition to organizing group runs and meetings and presentations with Steps to Wellness patients, the team co-captains organized apasta dinner for all team members that was held on Friday, May 24, 2013 in the Atrium cafeteria in the Given building on the UVM campus. Watch a video of Sabrina and Steps to Wellness participant Brian Hard on WCAX-TV Channel 3’s “The :30” program.

Last year, the UVM College of Medicine Marathon Team raised $30,000 for Steps to Wellness and the Fletcher Allen Teams raised nearly $13,000. To date, the team has collectively raised more than $24,000. Donate to the UVM College of Medicine Marathon Team.